He proposed to "be the meat in the family sandwich [and] I jealously ask that the role be kept for me," the court heard in tendered documents.

Lawyer Gary Reardon, whose firm was nominated as trustees by Ginia Rinehart, who has taken her mother's side against her three siblings, gave evidence on Wednesday.

Christopher Withers, lawyer for Bianca Rinehart and her brother John Hancock, accused Mr Reardon of not knowing anything about the trust, despite asking for more than $1 million in fees.

Mr Reardon also wanted to charge $300 per hour for work outside normal duties.

He disagreed the fees were excessive.

The court heard he only asked whether the trust's assets were inert and how often the beneficiaries would meet before nominating a $275,000 establishment fee and an $825,000 annual management charge.

"They were the two matters that helped fill in some gaps," Mr Reardon said.

The court heard the trust paid about $2.1 million annually to the beneficiaries and while he had not managed other trusts worth its $5bn value, Mr Reardon said he would act "as a prudent and diligent trustee" if given the job.